Under Age U17s - 2027 AFL Draft General Discussion

[Pinnell]

Oakleigh makes their preseason cut after tomorrow's session. Its gonna be rough, especially if you are in rehab and haven't been able to get on the track and there is a ton of those in rehab.
Or even if you are a bottom ager, go to an APS school and injured (or not injured) because you're unlikely to play many games.

It's gonna be very interesting to see which bottom agers make it, as there is a great deal out there training. But it's also not he end of the world if those bottom agers that dont make it.

Some might make it based on reputation.

There are always some that make it based on reputation. Having NGA status or F/S a huge advantage over kids at the same, or even slightly better level.

 

[Miller1971]

Reputations are also usually earnt via performance, so its not just favours for mates.

 

[Pinnell]

Reputations are also usually earnt via performance, so its not just favours for mates.

True, but if those performances were in the u14’s then a reputation is made. If development stagnates, and others flourish, then the reputation should count for Jack shit

 

[Half Back Pocket]

 

[Jen2310]

Big session last night from the oakleigh boys. They have done all they can do to impress. They have been told they'll know by the end of the week if they make it or not.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

Big session last night from the oakleigh boys. They have done all they can do to impress. They have been told they'll know by the end of the week if they make it or not.

They know now....

 

[RedmanWasHere]

They know now....

Congrats to those who are successful in advance.

To those and players from other clubs, good luck in 2026.

 

[EDFL follower]

Gippy Power have cut their list back to 80. Looks like about 30 bottom agers

 

[Yoda_]

Gippy Power have cut their list back to 80. Looks like about 30 bottom agers

Spoke to a parent of of young Jordan Knapp, Eastern have done there's also

 

[Jen2310]

Oakleigh cut 10 pre xmas, so probably mid 70's at this point.
4-5 bottom agers were cut including De Valle and Murchie, but bottom agers shouldn't take it too personally as they do need to prioritise top agers.

Still around 26 or 28 bottom agers remain so far. They'll prob have a week of training before the final cut in feb.

 

[Yoda_]

Oakleigh cut 10 pre xmas, so probably mid 70's at this point.
4-5 bottom agers were cut including De Valle and Murchie, but bottom agers shouldn't take it too personally as they do need to prioritise top agers.

Still around 26 or 28 bottom agers remain so far. They'll prob have a week of training before the final cut in feb.

Checked out Luke in the 16s trial games (they played Calder at Trevor Barker Beach Oval) and he looked a bull at a gate, a clear class above.

Checked his end of year stats and found he had barely received a mention in the bests for his local side (Ashburton). Still, plenty of water under this bridge and full confidence he gets into the discussion in his top age year as he has a number of attributes I like.

 

[Jen2310]

Checked out Luke in the 16s trial games (they played Calder at Trevor Barker Beach Oval) and he looked a bull at a gate, a clear class above.

Checked his end of year stats and found he had barely received a mention in the bests for his local side (Ashburton). Still, plenty of water under this bridge and full confidence he gets into the discussion in his top age year as he has a number of attributes I like.

Watching him at both levels, feels the sort of player that looks better at the next level than local level.
He was played as inside mid for Ashy, but played on the wing for Oakleigh where he can use his running capability, and tbf, there probably wasn't a lot of support for him in the midfield at ashburton. Ive also noticed on playHQ, you can rarely find the stats for best players, they aren't really recorded.

But he shouldn't be too disappointed, I thought he clearly was one of the better players training pre christmas and should be quite stiff. Just keep working, plenty of development left.

Another from Ashy, Cooper Brancatisano was given a late call up to the oakleigh squad. Trained for 2 sessions, but has so far avoided the cut.

 

[Jen2310]

I've just discovered another pies NGA. Aidan Moussa.

 

[Yoda_]

I've just discovered another pies NGA. Aidan Moussa.

is that due to the zone change ?

 

[Jen2310]

is that due to the zone change ?

That new zones dont come into effect until 2028 so been in the academy all this year, I just had no idea. And pies would access him anyway given seems we have taken over the YJFL region lol Plays for Bulleen Templestow and attends Marcelin

Half Back Pocket pointed him out to me earlier this year, but didn't think too much about it until now that ive seen him training with oakleigh. He's confirmed it.
German/Lebanese heritage.

 

[Jen2310]

White singlet





He’s clearly changed a bit from the start of the year

This is recently from training

 

[Jen2310]

If you had to take a guess right now, which bottom agers make it into Oakleigh's U18 squad? Half Back Pocket

This year they ran with 17 bottom agers but there is clearly a gap in talent with this years bottom agers and next years bottom agers so I do wonder if they'll run with a few more than usual.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

If you had to take a guess right now, which bottom agers make it into Oakleigh's U18 squad? Half Back Pocket

This year they ran with 17 bottom agers but there is clearly a gap in talent with this years bottom agers and next years bottom agers so I do wonder if they'll run with a few more than usual.

Who knows what they’re thinking.

Kids like Timms, King and Murray-Wright haven’t been sighted yet.

Kids like Ted and Ryder Brown seem to have a free pass despite injury or poor form

Condello, Fairchild, Brown, Cusson, Krav and Sellers all injured.

Rightly or wrongly, I think the same kids will be under the gun:

Remy
Tom Lewison
Cooper
Hugo Spiden
Mousa
Doggett
Tucker
Archie DJ
Taegan
Cusson


Metro kids like Harper, Josh, Lachie, Jack, Bondy and Zane will get a free pass.

 

[Jen2310]

Who knows what they’re thinking.

Kids like Timms, King and Murray-Wright haven’t been sighted yet.

Kids like Ted and Ryder Brown seem to have a free pass despite injury or poor form

Condello, Fairchild, Brown, Krav and Sellers all injured.

Rightly or wrongly, I think the same kids will be under the gun:

Remy
Tom Lewison
Cooper
Hugo Spiden
Mousa
Doggett
Tucker
Archie DJ
Taegan


Metro kids like Harper, Josh, Lachie, Jack, Bondy and Zane will get a free pass.

Yeah, too many injuries so far. I felt there was more injuries than those on the park. Really not ideal. At least seems like both Krav and Sellers are now back training during the the last week pre christmas.
Poor Condello, he can't catch a trick.
If you're a bottom ager and go to an APS school its gonna be tough because unlikely you'd play any, or many games if you're lucky.

 

[saintscup]

Who knows what they’re thinking.

Kids like Timms, King and Murray-Wright haven’t been sighted yet.

Kids like Ted and Ryder Brown seem to have a free pass despite injury or poor form

Condello, Fairchild, Brown, Krav and Sellers all injured.

Rightly or wrongly, I think the same kids will be under the gun:

Remy
Tom Lewison
Cooper
Hugo Spiden
Mousa
Doggett
Tucker
Archie DJ
Taegan


Metro kids like Harper, Josh, Lachie, Jack, Bondy and Zane will get a free pass.

What injuries do Condello, Fairchild, Brown, Krav and Sellers all have? A fair bit of quality amongst that group... Anything serious?

 

[Jen2310]

What injuries do Condello, Fairchild, Brown, Krav and Sellers all have? A fair bit of quality amongst that group... Anything serious?

Condello did a ligament in his foot or leg. Wore a moon boot for the final week of training. Says it was a 6 week recovery
Krav bit of Hamstring tendinopathy, but he was back in all the skills work in the final session, so he should be fully training when they resume.
Fairchild dislocated his shoulder during skevs training accidently by one of his teammates in a tackle. Thanks Maxy Wapshott lol He was running last I saw him.

 

[saintscup]

Condello did a ligament in his foot or leg. Wore a moon boot for the final week of training. Says it was a 6 week recovery
Krav bit of Hamstring tendinopathy, but he was back in all the skills work in the final session, so he should be fully training when they resume.
Fairchild dislocated his shoulder during skevs training accidently by one of his teammates in a tackle. Thanks Maxy Wapshott lol He was running last I saw him.

Bugger! All quality players and kids so hopefully the recover fast! The joys of playing AFL

 

[Jen2310]

We're now officially in the year where this crop are bottom agers.

Hopefully get to see a few of them through CTL clubs (or whatever the league will be called this year lol)